58th Meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council

Representatives of governments, international organizations, and civil society organizations (CSOs) will come together in an online format for the 58th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council to develop, adopt and evaluate the operational policies and programs for GEF-financed activities. Due to the coronavirus crisis, the Council will be meeting for the first time virtually. As a result, the session has been cut to two days, the agenda has been slimmed and the customary prior consultation with civil society organizations (CSOs) will not be held.

The Council, which meets twice a year and is the GEF’s main governing body, comprising 32 Members appointed by constituencies of GEF member countries, discusses and approved policies and programs guiding GEF.

Perhaps the most important issue facing the 58th meeting of the Council will be the appointment of the next GEF CEO and Chairperson to lead the GEF for the coming four years. The Council will consider a nomination proposed by its Selection and Review Committee.

This will be the last Council session presided by Naoko Ishii, who has led GEF as CEO and Chairperson since 2012. During her tenure GEF undertook two replenishments, adopted its first long-term strategy, and moved to address the underlying drivers of environmental degradation and to catalyze systems transformation in energy, cities and food systems while protecting critical ecosystems. Ishii also promoted greater use of integrated approaches to environmental issues and GEF participation and leadership in multi-stakeholder platforms.

Other items to be considered by the 58th meeting include:

• GEF’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy, which is proposed for Council approval;
• The approach for the 7th Comprehensive Evaluation of the GEF;
• The GEF Business Plan and Corporate Budget for FY21; and
• The Work Program.

Unlike most Council sessions, this one will not hear separate reports from the Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) and Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), and a discussion session on relations with the international agreements that GEF serves as financial mechanism will not be held.

The 58th meeting of the GEF Council will take place virtually, from 2-3 June 2020. Delegates will also convene as the 28th meeting of the Council for the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund (LDCF/SCCF) on 3 June 2020 to be updated on programmatic, budgetary and other issues.